Summary of events: (some dates are approximates.)

1.Had a filling fall out. I was in absolutely no pain
2.Went to dentist 12/11/2009
3.Dentist recommended a crown
4.Prepped tooth for crown and created mold.
5.Had temp crown put on
6.I called to complain about tenderness and food sticking in between teeth. 12/20/2009
7.I called to complain about tenderness and food sticking in between teeth. 01/04/2010
8.Went back to have perm crown put on with temp glue. 01/08/2010
9.She grounded the crown to fit my bite and it took her at least ten tries. But, then it still wasn't good enough so she ground down the lower tooth considerable to correct the bite. That tooth is now rough to the tongue and extremely aggravated.
10.I called to complain about tenderness and food sticking in between teeth. 01/15/2010
11.I called to complain about tenderness and food sticking in between teeth. 01/21/2010
12.Went back complaining about sensitivity and food sticking in between teeth. She perm glued crown on.
13.I called to complain about tenderness and food sticking in between teeth. 02/10/2010
14.I called to complain about tenderness and food sticking in between teeth. 04/22/2010
15.I called to complain about tenderness and food sticking in between teeth. 06/15/2010
16.Went back complaining about sensitivity and food sticking in between teeth. She said tooth behind crown was the cause and charged me to fix it. 07/23/2010
17.Had various pain during the week and on Friday night it became intolerable. 08/06/2010
18.Called her on Saturday on emergency line left message. She did not respond 08/07/2010
19.Went in Monday to have her look at it. 08/09/2010
20.Went to have a root canal. I used the Dentist that I have found since she couldn't find any dentists even though she knew of the emergency and after all the calls. 08/09/2010
21.Crown broke a piece off. 09/09/2010


I had a filling fall off one of my rear molars.
I went to Midtown Dental Center because they accepted my insurance and they were near where I was staying during my day off. On 12/112009 Donnie Marsh-Filipczak DMD performed the appointment. She looked and took an x-ray of my tooth. She said that I needed a crown and there were no other choices. This I believe was a ploy to make more money. There were other choices. (I had recently had another filling fall out on another tooth in a similar location – on the rear side of the tooth and the dentist fixed it to last the rest of my life.) Using dentistry skills, she could have replaced the filling at a supporting geometry (there was plenty of tooth to support the bite.). My research informs me “if more than half of your tooth is filled, a crown will most likely be recommended”. This was not the case. There was only a small part where the existing filling fell off and it wasn't anywhere near 50% filled. Her crown was more expensive by at least 25 percent more then other Dentists I have asked. She charged $1, 389.00. I had other quotes for around $1000.00. As example Dennis Lichorwic D.M.D quoted $900!

After a few days with the temporary crown in place I called Donnie Marsh-Filipczak DMD and told her about the tenderness and discomfort I was having with the crown. She said it was normal. See 6 above.

I called her office many times about the discomfort and food sticking problem, See numbered items above.

I have researched that even with a good dentist about 4% of all crowns still need to have a root canal. I can assure you this is not the case with me.

I went back to have the permanent crown installed. I complained again about the sensitivity. She had a very difficult time fitting the crown. After many tries of regrinding the crown thus weakening it tremendously, she finally had to grind down my lower tooth. Thus aggravating, traumatizing and ruining the lower tooth in the process.

I called complaining about discomfort and sensitivity again and was informed that it should subside after a few weeks.

After about a month and a half, I returned complaining that I had sensitivity on the rear of the crowned tooth and that food was constantly sticking in between. She thought that there was nothing unusual and then attached the crown with permanent glue. She had me bite down extra hard this time as to reduce the margin gap. Consequently, She never noticed that the tooth behind had decay that was 'supposedly', causing the food to stick. (Later she perform a filling on that tooth.) I know the margin problem is the cause and I can prove it.

About a month later I called complaining about food sticking in between my teeth and I received another appointment. When I came in for the appointment, she looked at it and said that the tooth right behind the one with the crown was the problem and she needed to fill in the side of it. Unbelievable, you would have thought she would have notice this while working on the crown all these times and all the complaining I have been doing. She probably created the problem herself with a slip of the grinder while she was grinding the tooth right next to it! That is just unethical.

About three months later while experiencing sensitivity on the rear of the crowned tooth, I started experiencing extreme pain and I called her emergency line and nobody returned my call even though I informed on the message of my extreme pain.

I went back for an emergency dental visit. She confirmed that I needed an emergency root canal but couldn't supply a Endodontist to provide the service. She made no prescriptions to me to subside the pain I was enduring. I have to thank myself in finding an Endodontist that could perform the emergency root canal.

I had to have an emergency root canal.

I experienced tremendous pain and discomfort for more then 8 months. Which all could have been avoided with proper care.

The margin error still attracts food and is very uncomfortable.

The crown has broken a side off of it. ( Due to all the unnecessary grinding and poor fit, this was inevitable, and would have happen anytime whether a hole was drilled in the top for a root canal or not! )The crown needs to be replaced due in fact more to the problem margin then the chip and needs to be replaced.

Conclusion;
After my research on crown installations, I can say many things supporting my claim of negligence against Donnie Marsh-Filipczak DMD. One, she could have easily put the crown on backwards. Secondly, the crown was poorly created( bad mold impression, no impression of the opposite teeth, andor poor crown craftsmanship ). The disturbing fact is that after all the effort she just didn't give up and take a new impression and do the right thing and order another crown. She was determined to have that crown, after all the grinding be the one I got.

I have researched that even with a good dentist about 4% of all crowns still need to have a root canal. In my case this not true. Due the improper margin gap on the rear of the tooth, this is obviously Donnie Marsh-Filipczak DMD fault. This is in fact the cause of the tooth's root dying including, all the extreme aggravating pain I endured over the duration.

The longevity of all the process in dealing with this crown have exceeded 1 year.

Because of the poor craftsmanship and negligence, I hold Donnie Marsh-Filipczak's fully responsible. In fact so much so, that it has prompted me to file this complaint.


Follow ups:

Dr. Filipczak, The more I investigate, the more crap I find out.
1.You didn't send all my dental records to my new dentist even after they sent you the signed request. You need to get all my records there. ( Destin Center for Cosmetic Dentistry) Including the xrays of before the crown. Plus you must send all xrays and information there that were sent from Dr. Marsh to you. (334) 347-6702
2.You charged to work on tooth #19 with out my permission to correct the bite. That should have been included in the price of the crown and prep. It is unethical to charge for more work when your had a bad crown in the first place. You ruined that tooth for nothing and you shouldn't have touched it.

Her response is to pay but she never did.

Okay. My attorney Mary Ann Patti has the agreement ready for you to sign. Her office is at 2005 west Garden St, Pensacola, FL 32502. She will have the check for you on friday at noon when you sign the agreement. I hope Friday is still a good time for you. you should be able to go to any dentist to have the work done. If I make arrangements with a dental office to do your work i cannot guarantee the quality of work so you will have to choose a dentist on your own. thanks